Let’s all be perfectly clear – The Force Awakens is NOT just for Star Wars fans. It’s not just for geeks or sci-fi buffs. The Force Awakens is a genuine love letter to anyone who loves the movies and has a soul.

That said, let me back up.

2015 has brought us some of the greatest movies in years. From Mad Max to Jurassic World, I can’t remember when we had such a solid lineup of films.

I recently decided that this summer’s Inside Out was the greatest film ever made, dethroning The King’s Speech from the coveted spot in my heart. And then, just a few short months later, the “Best Movie of All Time” seat is challenged yet again with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Few will argue with me that the movie was absolutely mind-blowing and fewer would argue that it was just really, really, really damn good.

But am I jumping the gun by saying it could possibly be the greatest movie of all time?? Do I just need to get a grip and wait for the hype to pass? Am I forgetting greats such as The Return of the King or the emotional surprise that was Toy Story 3?

I don’t think so.

Even if it’s not your favorite film ever, I don’t think I’m far off the mark by asserting it’s the greatest film of all time. Here’s why:

1. The High Expectation

J.J. Abrams and everyone that worked on this movie had something going against them that no movie crew has ever had to deal with ever. Three generations of movie goers with impossibly high expectations and demands. I’m talking about a significant population rate of people who have been deeply wounded by the release of the previous trilogy. So not only was the audience-base expecting a good Star Wars film, but they expected their pain to be remedied. The reviews and audience reaction shows that Abrams and co. has indeed gone beyond wowing everyone and bandaging up our wounds, but they cut an incision in Star Wars fans and precisely and deliberately removed the cancer that was George Lucas’ prequels. Order has now been restored in the galaxy.

2. Big Risk; Little Effects

The Force Awakens team went against the Hollywood grain by going back to set pieces and costumes and minimizing on CGI effects. They replaced the needless cartoons with something of importance and substance: Story. And a damn good one to boot!

3. Emotions Run High

The writers knew who our favorite character(s) would be going in, and they punched us in the gut, and pulverized our hearts. One review on Rotten Tomatoes said it perfectly: “The Best Disappointing Movie Ever.” There were some high risks in some major decisions as well, but it was all carried out so deftly, so perfectly, so cleanly that audiences will love J.J. Abrams for stabbing them in the heart and leaving them for dead. Folks, this Star Wars film made me cry! That’s never happened to me in George Lucas’ galaxy. It’s also by far the funniest film in the franchise, which only heightens the experience.

I might try to come up with more reasons why this could be the greatest film ever made. But so far, that’s what I’ve got.

Share your thoughts! Come on, you know you want to talk about it and spoilers are allowed in the comments! Go!

Just got out of a viewing of The Force Awakens. I was going to title this post “Everything Episode VII Got Wrong” and then leave the entire post blank, but I didn’t want people sitting at their computer pressing the reload button repeatedly.

First off, Episode VII turned this mediocre Star Wars fan into a fanatic.

Here’s everything J.J. Abrams did right with the newest Star Wars installment:

1. The special effects were minimal

Thank you Abrams, Disney, and anyone else behind the making of this masterpiece, for realizing that story trumps special effects. They did away with the overt CGI and filmed it on sets and used costumes for, I’d say, about 70% of the movie. Any other CGI, I didn’t notice it.

2. Played the drama up

It’s dramatic. There’s twits and turns and unexpected deaths, and they’re hard-hitting. It’s as though Abrams decided, “If we’re gonna hit the audience, we need to hit them hard … and where it hurts the most.” And it is a satisfying and resonating pain.

3. Old-Style Star Wars

It wasn’t filled with new gimmicks and gadgetry (though there are some new twists on old weapons). It was the old Tie-fighters and Millennium Falcon, and storm troopers, and everything else that makes Star Wars Star Wars. It was Star Wars to the core. The Star Wars people know and love.

Guys, I can go on and on, but it’s getting real late here and I’ve got to get up early to go to work. If you’re skeptical, don’t just take my word for it: Listen to virtually everyone who sees this film and watch their eyes light up and hear their hearts racing as they try to explain the glory of this movie.

Whoever says “Movies are dead” is wrong. We just have to wait for the right ones to bounce along every now and then, and this one not only bounces, but crushes with full force.